1
as in timid
easily frightened
a shy cat who hid under the bed every time she heard any loud noise
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
a shy person who finds talking to anyone but a close friend to be an awkward and unpleasant experience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lacking
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need
the team is shy a couple of players because of illness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in notorious
not respectable
she was nervous about being left alone in a shy bar in a bad section of town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shy
Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Admittedly, Ford himself was a little shy among such seasoned players.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Drew Kann, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
Still, these two youngsters don’t shy away from it, whether the topic is past and present occupants of the White House or issues like immigration.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shy
Adjective
Meanwhile, Clark came one technical foul shy of taking a one-game suspension during her rookie year.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Admittedly, Ford himself was a little shy among such seasoned players.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Verb
Never one to shy away from sharing his views, Turner spoke openly about his climate worries — and pushed industry to embrace solutions.
—Drew Kann, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
Still, these two youngsters don’t shy away from it, whether the topic is past and present occupants of the White House or issues like immigration.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shy
Adjective
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Your favorite team probably doesn’t use them much, if at all, because they’re considered extremely difficult and most GMs are timid babies who are afraid of getting yelled at.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
That bill is a direct response to a Supreme Court that handed the executive branch a dangerous blank check and a Congress too timid to push back.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
His is a more enlightened era, but Hannes, lonely and withdrawn, doesn’t share his classmates’ interest in campus sit-ins and free love.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
Lost was the fact that a grid-connection request is just the start of a multiyear process that involves permitting and legal review and often ends in withdrawn or downsized projects.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Not just any type of bus, but a marshrutka—a crowded, rumbling, claustrophobic Soviet holdover minibus, solidly built with steel girding and equally lacking in shock absorbers and seat padding.—
Irene Zabytko
May 7,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
-
So many young players come up the ranks lacking game management.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Lake Baikal, often described as an inland sea because of its enormous size, is notorious for sudden storms and icy conditions even during tourist season, according to National Geographic.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2026
-
In the Senate, Mike Lee has proved notorious for wasting valuable time with legislation that has little chance of passing.—
Scott Braden,
Denver Post,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Captain Sangay Wangchuk didn’t flinch.—
Chris Dong,
Travel + Leisure,
12 May 2026
-
San Antonio featured four regulars –De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper — and yet Denver’s unknowns refused to flinch.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Lennon’s recounting of his and Ono’s meeting at a London show of her work, and of the bashful courtship that followed, is one of the most tender and revealing parts of the interview.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
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Kehlani has never been bashful about her sexuality or bedroom behavior (see: her viral dance moves at her recent live shows), and no project of hers would be complete without a steamy number for the after-hours playlist.—
Adelle Platon,
VIBE.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This is especially important for low-income communities and others who rely heavily on the shot for contraception.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
Not since Oakland Hills in 2008 — Jeev Milkha Singh and Robert Karlsson at 2-under 68 — has the low score to par after the first round of the PGA Championship been worse than 3 under.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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The mystery of Buzzy's disappearance remains one of the most infamous urban legends in Disney parks history, but for Bailey, the story is about more than just a missing robot.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
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The record also includes collaborations with Future and rising star Molly Santana and is Drake’s ninth solo studio album — his first since his now infamous war of words with Kendrick Lamar.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shy. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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